Mitt Romney
likes to recount a conversation he had with Shimon Peres, the president of
Israel, back when he was governor of Massachusetts. Peres told him that “America
is unique in the history of the world for its willingness to sacrifice so many
lives of its precious sons and daughters for liberty, not solely for itself but
also for its friends.” What Peres said has been echoed by Gen. Colin Powell, who
once remarked that the only land the United States ever asked for at the end of
a war was enough to bury our dead.

American
foreign policy is indeed unique, and it is our commitment to liberty — more,
even, than our military might — that has made us the leader of the free world.
Unfortunately, over the last four years, the character of our role in the world
has changed, and not for the better.

We are
failing to meet some serious challenges.

…

These
failures of President Obama on the world stage are not only failures of policy;
they are failures of leadership. In fact, some of President Obama’s positions
are not all that different from those of his harshest critics. The problem is
that his words are seldom backed up by action. Our foreign adversaries neither
fear nor respect him.

…

This points
to one of the more significant differences between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.
Mitt Romney has an unbroken track record of carrying out his promises. No one
will doubt a President Romney when he says that he has Israel’s back.

…

Most
importantly, Mitt Romney will restore the sinews of American strength. We cannot
maintain a strong position on the world stage with an economy mired in
stagnation. Mitt Romney has a comprehensive plan to put our country back on the
path of economic growth and create jobs for all who seek them.

…

Mitt Romney
also understands that American power is much more than our combined economic and
military might.

…

American
leadership is needed now more than ever. And if we are to make our
foreign-policy goals a reality, we need a president who has the strength of
conviction to follow through on his words. We haven’t had that these last four
years. It is time that we did. Mitt Romney is the leader we need in this moment
of opportunity and danger.

**In compliance with
copyright laws, this version of the editorial is excerpted**

Boston, MA – Former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman today made the following statement on comments made by the South Carolina Democratic Party chairman:

“Democratic Party officials need to cease and desist from comparing those with whom they disagree to Nazis. The latest offender is Dick Harpootlian, the South Carolina Democratic Party chairman, whose outrageous words I will not repeat. In recent days, we’ve seen similarly disgraceful statements from a top Kansas Democratic delegate and from the chairman of the California Democratic Party. President Obama has called for civility in American politics. If his call is to be taken seriously, it’s time for the President to rein in those of his supporters and allies who are trivializing Nazism while also shamelessly trampling on the most basic rules of American political discourse.”

Boston, MA – Former Senator and National Co-Chairman of the Romney Jewish Coalition Norm Coleman made the following statement today on the Democratic Party removing pro-Israel language from its platform:

“I am alarmed by the changes regarding Israel in the Democratic Party platform. Anyone familiar with the way in which these documents are drafted understands the care that is taken with every word. By failing to mention Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, by no longer insisting that Palestinian refugees be settled inside a future Palestinian state rather than in Israel, and by failing to condemn Hamas—all new positions from four years ago—the Democratic Party is signaling a radical shift in its orientation, away from Israel. Does the document accurately mirror Barack Obama’s views? Given that his top aides have said that the platform reflects his policies, and given that his official White House spokesman has also refused to name Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, that is now an urgent question to which the American people deserve an immediate and unequivocal response.”

SEN. NORM COLEMAN: CHAIRMAN BURTON’S COMMENTS HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM

Boston, MA – Former Senator and National Co-Chairman of the Romney Jewish Coalition Norm Coleman made the following statement on the comments made by California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton:

“President Obama promised to lift up American politics. Unfortunately, some of his supporters, by employing rhetoric that has no place in our political system, are bringing it down to the gutter. The comments by California Democratic Chair John Burton likening the Republican Party to Nazis and Joseph Goebbels are just such an instance. All people of good will should repudiate such disgraceful words.”

SEN. NORM COLEMAN: “ROMNEY WILL RESTORE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND ENSURE ANOTHER AMERICAN CENTURY”

Boston, MA – Former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman today made the following statement on Mitt Romney’s speech to the VFW:

“American power abroad is rooted in our strength at home. Barack Obama has singularly failed to breathe life into the U.S. economy, and has set the U.S. military on a path toward budget cuts that his own Secretary of Defense has called ‘devastating’ to our national security. Mitt Romney’s speech to the VFW shows that with the right leadership our country need not follow a path of decline, but instead a path of leadership. Governor Romney will restore American leadership and ensure another American Century. And Governor Romney would never tolerate a White House staff that leaks America’s national-security secrets, as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has found to be the practice under Barack Obama.”

McLean, VA – Fred Thompson announced his endorsement of Newt Gingrich on Fox News’ Hannity last night, and this morning released a 5 minute video outlining why he believes Newt Gingrich can best articulate and defend American Exceptionalism against President Obama and the forces of the Washington Establishment.

“We don’t need to just manage the way Washington works,” Thompson says in the video, “We need to fundamentally change Washington…We need someone who has the courage and ability to communicate the truth to the American people…I believe that person is Newt Gingrich. And that is why I strongly support him.”

Newt Gingrich, campaigning in Sarasota, FL this morning, reacted to the endorsement. “It is an honor to receive the support of such a powerful voice for limited, constitutional government and economic freedom.”

Hello I'm Fred Thompson

I am one of the countless number of Americans who know firsthand that, in this country, a person may be born into modest circumstances, but that he comes into the world blessed in ways that have been unimaginable to the vast majority of people who have ever lived. We are born with the birthright of freedom and opportunity -- free to make our own choices about the important things in life and the opportunity to fulfill our God-given potential.

The greatest fear that I have for my country is that our government now has us on a different path. Instead of freedom and opportunity, it is one of debt, dependence division and decline -- a path that will weaken our country and sap the vitality of the American people.

We have moved from an era of balanced budgets, to a time of debt as large as our entire economy and of lost credit ratings. In 2001, when I was chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, I released a report "Government On the Brink," in which I laid out the extent to which our government was bloated, growing, wasteful, subject to massive fraud, and basically out of control. A decade later, it is worse. Today, federal bureaucrats think they can tell a family where they can build their home and a business where it can locate.

I believe that how one views the condition and trajectory of our country determines how one views the strengths of our presidential candidates. For me, I believe that we are at a tipping point, one from which we may not return.

To avoid these disastrous consequences, our country needs leadership that is fearless and confident -- a candidate who can give voice to the concerns and frustrations of the American people ...someone who understands -- and will never apologize for American Exceptionalism.

We don't need to just manage the way Washington works. We need to fundamentally change Washington. It would be a major setback for our party and our country if we elect a president who is not up to that challenge. We need someone who has the courage and ability to communicate the truth to the American people. Someone who will explain the hard choices that we must make if we are to give our children and grandchildren the same opportunities our forefathers bestowed on us and avoid the fate that other great nations have suffered throughout history.

I believe that person is Newt Gingrich. And that is why I strongly support him. I came to Washington in 1995, in part as a result of the political revolution that Newt conceived and led. Over the next few years we were able to balance the budget, pass welfare reform, and begin to rebuild a weakened military. So we know it can be done.

Unfortunately, some on our side lost their way, became divided, and fell into recriminations and finger pointing. Sometimes, success is a difficult thing to handle. I believe that most of us have learned from our mistakes and are now focused on the future and the dangers and opportunities that lie ahead for our country.

President Obama's strategy is simple...avoid the hard realities his failed policies have created over the past three years, divide the country, pander to and organize his various constituencies, and eek out another victory. I believe he fails to see what so much of the political establishment and the Washington insiders on both sides of the aisle fail to see -- that these past few years have changed our people and our country.

People in America don't want to be told what to do, and they certainly can't be told what to think. They see for themselves what is happening in Europe with Greece, Spain and the lot, do not want it happening on our shores and are spontaneously organizing in towns all across America. They realize that on our present course we may not recognize our country in a few years. They are waiting to be inspired and energized to a cause that will conserve those first principles that made us the envy of the world.

This cause cannot be led by glossy flip charts, processing data, or reams of talking points poll-tested by a roomful of consultants. It must be led by someone who can forcefully make our basic case for the economy ... for example ... how lower taxes benefit all Americans, and can raise revenue for the legitimate and limited functions of the federal government. Someone who is able to articulate the message of growth, free enterprise and freedom. Someone who knows that bold ideas have preceded every major achievement of mankind -- including the United States of America.

I believe that Newt Gingrich is that person. Please join me and Newt in this effort to renew America's Exceptionalism. Go to Newt.org and show your support.

“Should former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) be faced with a choice for president between two fellow Minnesotans -- Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) -- he'd go with Pawlenty, he told Hotline On Call on Tuesday.”

The American Action Network And Norm Coleman Hold First Press Conference Today At The National Press Club

(Washington, D.C.) Promising to be a powerful voice for center-right ideas and action, the American Action Network and its sister organization, the American Action Forum, held their inaugural press conference today at the National Press Club.

The American Action Forum, a 501(c)(3) is a charitable organization whose mission will be to help aggregate and synthesize the best ideas of the center-right into common-sense, conservative solutions and make those ideas publicly available. The American Action Network is a 501(c)(4) organization which will seek to turn those ideas into action, through widespread dissemination of center-right policy proposals, including use of social networking as well as traditional communication channels. It will also advocate for their adoption with policy makers, opinion leaders, and the American people at large, with a special focus on younger Americans.

Fred Malek, a prominent business executive, philanthropist and a driving force behind the organizations, said, “I believe that the majority of Americans see themselves either as conservative or centrist. They are deeply concerned about their jobs and want their country to be safe and secure. They want to stop the bickering and fix the problems in ways that don’t include more debt and bigger government. I believe a new generation of common-sense conservative ideas will be helpful in meeting those challenges. We have brought together strong leadership and two outstanding Boards of Directors to help formulate those solutions. I am especially appreciative for the members of the boards of both organizations, who reflect years of public service and policy acumen.”

Norm Coleman, a former United States Senator from Minnesota and former Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, will be the Chief Executive Officer of both organizations. He said, “I have run a big city and I have had the great honor to serve in the Senate. I understand the need for both good ideas—and turning ideas into action. I believe the path to more jobs, greater economic growth and strong national security lies in solutions grounded in center-right principals of lower taxes, limited government, entrepreneurial growth and strong national security. We need practical ideas that reflect the values of the American people, and we need to use cutting-edge technologies to communicate those ideas. I am very proud to join with Fred to help lead this new organization, and look forward to working with these very talented people to bring center-right ideas to the policy marketplace.”

Doug Holtz-Eakin, former Director of the Congressional Budget Office, will serve as the President of the American Action Forum. He said, “I am excited to help bring together the best ideas of the center-right, work with a talented group of experts and scholars, and, through policy forums, debates, and interactive discussions using the latest technologies, help chart a new course for the country.”

Rob Collins, former Chief of Staff to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, will serve as the President of the American Action Network. He said, “I appreciate the opportunity to expand the reach of the center-right movement. I understand the importance of moving beyond the debate and turning ideas into action. Outreach is a vital part to the public policy discussion, and I plan on being very aggressive in reaching out to the American people.”